Services

York could get more Civil Service jobs

Sir Bob Kerslake, Head of the UK Civil Service with members of the Food Standards Agency during his visit to Foss House in York. From left are Michael Todd, Ken Anderson, Sue Richardson, Jayne Humble, Emma Reynolds and James Baker

THE head of the UK Civil Service has said more public sector jobs could come to York - as unions claim 35 staff will be made redundant under a controversial package of cost-cutting reforms.

Sir Bob Kerslake visited agencies based at Foss House, including Defra, the Food Standards Agency and the Rural Payments Agency, yesterday amid a shake-up which is seeing work switched to Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL), formed by a deal between the British arm of French IT services group Steria and the Cabinet Office.

The PCS union has said 508 Civil Service roles, including 35 in York - where 2,000 are employed - will be shed through the move, with SSCL saying the final job-loss figure will be confirmed once a consultation period ends.

Sir Bob said the service was shrinking due to austerity measures, but said: "We are committed to retaining a presence in York across a range of Government activities, particularly those relating to Defra.

"Places like York have huge advantages for us. We get very good-quality staff, there is generally less turnover and the working environment is very good. There is a lot to be said for us keeping civil servants in York and elsewhere outside London - about three-quarters of staff now work outside the Greater London area.

"Every bit of the Civil Service is seeing a reduction in staff numbers and that will impact on everywhere, including York. However, we have seen the Rural Payments Agency move from Northallerton to York and, while I can't give specific examples, we could see other things moving to York from across the service. I personally think the Civil Service will continue to have a presence in York for the foreseeable future."

Sir Bob, who said he was not aware of any plans by SSCL to move out of Foss House, said: "We will be seeing change into the next Government, but we shouldn't see that as a barrier to people joining the service and doing really great jobs.

"People have a passion for their jobs and want to improve the service we provide. Of course they have experienced concerns over pension payments and flattening of salaries, but, by and large, they understand we have been through a period of considerable austerity and the public sector is affected by that."

Comments

Nice to see Sir Bob so out of touch, SSCL will be moving out of Foss House for cheaper accommodation. It would be nice if Steria informed their staff of where they will be moving too!

Nice to see Sir Bob so out of touch, SSCL will be moving out of Foss House for cheaper accommodation. It would be nice if Steria informed their staff of where they will be moving too!Yorkshire base

Nice to see Sir Bob so out of touch, SSCL will be moving out of Foss House for cheaper accommodation. It would be nice if Steria informed their staff of where they will be moving too!

Score: 5

Steve up north
9:11pm Sat 22 Mar 14

Good news for York, but bad news for a small town like Northallerton, which has lost the jobs from the Rural Payments Agency, the prison and both North Yorkshire and Hambleton Councils. It's turning into a ghost town.

Good news for York, but bad news for a small town like Northallerton, which has lost the jobs from the Rural Payments Agency, the prison and both North Yorkshire and Hambleton Councils. It's turning into a ghost town.Steve up north

Good news for York, but bad news for a small town like Northallerton, which has lost the jobs from the Rural Payments Agency, the prison and both North Yorkshire and Hambleton Councils. It's turning into a ghost town.

Score: 1

Sue Renardson
9:59pm Sat 22 Mar 14

We had a really informative visit, albeit in times of great change and uncertainty. I wish the Press had got my name right. I sat with the photographer and spelt everyones names out

We had a really informative visit, albeit in times of great change and uncertainty. I wish the Press had got my name right. I sat with the photographer and spelt everyones names outSue Renardson

We had a really informative visit, albeit in times of great change and uncertainty. I wish the Press had got my name right. I sat with the photographer and spelt everyones names out

Score: 0

Guthred
10:34pm Sat 22 Mar 14

Yorkshire base wrote…

Nice to see Sir Bob so out of touch, SSCL will be moving out of Foss House for cheaper accommodation. It would be nice if Steria informed their staff of where they will be moving too!

Pune?

[quote][p][bold]Yorkshire base[/bold] wrote:
Nice to see Sir Bob so out of touch, SSCL will be moving out of Foss House for cheaper accommodation. It would be nice if Steria informed their staff of where they will be moving too![/p][/quote]Pune?Guthred

Yorkshire base wrote…

Nice to see Sir Bob so out of touch, SSCL will be moving out of Foss House for cheaper accommodation. It would be nice if Steria informed their staff of where they will be moving too!

Ipsoregulated

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